Democracy and Participation- Key Terms

Where citizens elect representatives to formulate legislation and take other decisions on their behalf.

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Direct democracy

Where citizens are given a direct input into the decision -making process.

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Referendum

A vote on a single issue put to the public ballot by the government of the day. Referendums offer a degree of direct democracy. They are generally framed in the form of a simple yes/no question

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Initiative

A process by which citizens can call a referendum, normally by collecting a predetermined number of signatures on a petition.

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Recall

A device that allows citizens to unseat an elected official before the end of their term in office.

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Political participation

Collectively refers to the range of ways in which citizens can involve themselves in the political process.

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Franchise

The right to vote as established by parliamentary statute. The vast majority of adult UK citizens have the right to vote.

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Turnout

The percentage of registered voters who cast a ballot in a given election.

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Canvassing

Where local party activists go from door to door in an effort to assess (ie canvass) the strength of support and win over floating voters.

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Participation crisis

The view that declining levels of political participation in the UK threaten to undermine its democratic systems.

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POWER inquiry

An inquiry into the state of political participation in the UK initiated by the Joseph Rowntree Trust. This resulted in the POWER report: Power to the People: The Report of Power- An Independent inquiry into Britain'd Democracy.

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Subsidiarity

The principle that decisions should be taken at the lowest tier of government possible.

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e-democracy

The greater use of the internet, mobile phones and other electronic media as a means of enhancing the operation of existing political institutions and processes, and encouraging greater political participation.